Motor-control switch



Dec. 1], 1928.

' 1,694,613 c. o. AINSWORTH v MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed March 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2 1770671702, V M 1). M

'1 C. D. AINSWORTH MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed March 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1928.

c. D. AINSWORTH MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 28. 1921 If v//.

fiIUTZ707, QLJ; (2

Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER D. AINSWORTH, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MOTOR-CONTROL SWITCH.

Application filed March 28, 1921. Serial No. 456,318.

This invention relates to electric switches especially adapted for the control of the motors of individually motor driven machines as looms, lathes, saws and the like.

Such machines are usually started and stopped many times a day and it is desirable to control them at the machine as by a shipper rod which may extend the length of the machine so that an operative positioned at any location adjacent the machine may start and stop it; or by other devices; or in a manner similar to the control of the machine when a belt drive from a power shaft is employed.

The motor is usually provided with a remotely controlled switch which may be of the type having separate closing and opening coils or a single closing coil adapted to be continually energized to hold the switch closed; or the switch may be otherwise arranged. The remote control switch for the aforesaid switch usually has two push buttons, one for starting and the other for stopping the motor; and such control switches are usually located near the machine driven by the motor.

An object of this invention is the provision of a control switch having depressible switch members and mechanism by which to operate the switch.

A further object is to provide mechanism adapted to operate a push-button type electric switch.

A further object is to provide an oil immersed remote control switch for the motor control switch.

Briefly the switch embodying the invention may comprisea casing adapted to contain oil and switch operating mechanism above the oil. The switch elements are reccived in the casing and may be immersed in the oil. Cams are adapted to engage the push buttons or depressiblc switch 1ncmbers and a sliding bar is adapted to be operated to depress said cams, thereby to depress said depressible members, and operate the switch. A movement of said bar in one direction is adapted to operate the switch to stop the motor and a movement of said bar in the opposite direction is adapted to operate the switch to start the motor.

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a switch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan section along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail similar to Fig. 3 but with some of the mechanism removed to expose the cams.

Fig. 5 is a plan detail similar to Fig. 4 but with the top cam guide and cams removed to expose the lower cam guide.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a cam.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail illustrating the arrangement of the cams to operate a modified type of switch.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 7 illustrating the cam arrangement for a further modified switch.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the switch equipped with pull cords for operating it.

Fig. 10 is a plan detail of a remote control switch arranged to control a motor switch having one operating coil.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the contact members of the switch of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of the contact members of a switch adapted to control a motor switch having two independent operating coils.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of the contact members of a switch which in itself may directly control the motor.

Fig. 14 is a detail of a pin adapted to be interposed between a cam and a depressible switch member for certain purposes.

As here shown, the switch embodying the invention includes the casing having the front and rear walls 10 and 10 and side walls 11 and 11. An attaching member 12, here shown as a flat plate, is secured to the rear wall and extends beyond the side walls; and the extended portions thereof may be arovidcd with holes 13 through which bolts may be passed to secure the switch to a support. A cover 14 is adapted removably to close the top of the receptacle and the securing means for the cover may comprise the screws 15.

A receptacle 16 depends from and has its top portion received within said casing; and said receptacle is removably secured thereto by the screws 17 and is adapted to contain oil in which the switch members are immersed.

The switch adapted to be received within the casing is characterized by having the bod 1S. iisuall" of an insulatiirumaterial, and the two p 1 buttons or movable switch members 19 and which rit above said bod and. may be yicldiir u in eleritcd irines 21 which encir position b the s 7 tlnnu. Said body may also have the cars 42 (Xiiltltal from opposite dcs by which be secured v. .thm tne ,dwlliyl.

' to be L switch will thereafter closed. not an openii' coil ad ited momenta be energized .0 open tne switch.

For tha t L?" of n'iotor switch havii q a single c lC-ltllflg coil one or said i Fig. 11.) may be zrra 1 tons, as 20, (see to hold its circuit normall; clot-ed, and .ie other button. as 19, to hold its circuit normali open. .claid button may hav a stem 20 which bears a contact disc Qt) dis posed beneath the two stationary contact members 23, and held in normal contat therewith by the spring 21. The butt-on 39 may have a stem 19 which bears a contac disc 19* disposed normall; above and tree from contact with the stationary contact members i-l. ine depressing of button 20 may operate to open the circuit connected therewith and de-energize the holding coil of the motor control switch, thereby to stop the motor; and the depressing of button 19 may operate to close the circuit connected therewith to energize the holding coil, which ma thereafter be held closed, thereb to close the motor switch and start the motor.

For that type of motor switch having independent opening and closing coils. a remote control switch having two ci cult-c osin; units may be employed, as in F? 12. In this switch the button 20 may be apsociated with the ationary contact members and the contact disc 20 normall supported above and tree from electrical contact with said members. The button 19 may have similar stationary contact members it) and be similarl v a rranged.

The switch may a diagrammath rally illustrated in I 1 3 wherein the two push l'iuttons 15.) and 20 are connectel to opposite ends ot a lever 27 and button is adapted to be depressed tomove said lever into bridging engagement with the stationarv contact members 28 and close the circuit: and saif outtons l9 (lOPl'QSSGCa. to raise said lever and open the circuit. Said s vitch may, in itseli, iuiction directly as a motor control switch.

The switches diagrainn'iatically illustrated an l- 1 buttons. without hereiiiat'tcr to be in. F 's 11. 1.2, and 13 are ard and, the i tl rat ng incchaulr described, are adapted pre. ed by an oper: ti

i re controll d i v i l i of this invention to emo ov such a are adz'ipted to 1" up 1e push al 20 re pm-tn. "Hi cam 3t) may be adapted to be dcprew to depress the butt-en 19 to stop the motor nd said cum 'll may be adapt ,d to be dcprcs l to dcprt s the .iutton it? to start the motor. t rid cams, )relerably, are identical and, each i "llllslilllall rectangula in Slldlflt and ot antral Each cam lJZlr: cam l he downwardl cam oe cu i a Jam let i mocha hereinafter t: be icscribed and (repressed to salt and l sop the motor.

laid cams are guided for vertical movement by the upper cam guide and lower caln guide 33. bald upper guide is formed of flat strip of metal having the downw'ardly reflexed end-poi ions 3:? which engra e the side walls 11 of the casing and to which the are secured by the screws 3 1-. I I lower guide also is formed of a tlat strip of material and has its end-portions rcfieJ-Led to term first the downwardly extended portions 33;, then the outwardly extended portions 33" which are pa allel but below the body oi the strip, and then the upwardly e tended portions 33 which engage the side Yalls ot the casin and are secured thereto by the screws 3;). Aligned rectangular apertures 36 and 3G: and ST and :37 are formed in said guides -32 and 33 in which said cams and 31 are slid. blv received. Each cam has a hole. 38 therein in which otter pins. 39 are extended; and said cotter pins are adapt.- ed, to engage the under side of the top guide 32 to hol .he cums in the guides against vertical placement therefrom.

The can a ot the switch assembly are 10- cured removablv to the portions- 'l l' oi" the lower guide 33 by the screws ll); and a plate ll may be interposed between said wars and ti) }'t l l'll 'l)' "I" .lt PM. lihlb 0) J1 it not] iiitit. 11h. \"ll t nub plate may have aperture:-' therein llll'UUfQll which said push buttons it? and it are ere tended by which said. buttons are guiled for vertical movement.

'lhe operating mechanism comprfor said cams .es the two e: lgewise-arrangeal. closelyspace l bars 42 and l3 which extend through the casing above the cams and are slidably received in slots and 4:5 in the opposite side walls 11 and ll o" the casing. A pin -lb' is t passed through al gned apertures in the mid die of said rods and is held in place by suitable means, as the cotter pin 47. A roller 48 is disposed on said pin between said bars and is adapted to engage and depress said cams 30 and 31 when said bars are moved from one to the other side in the casing thereby to operate the switch. Pins 49 are passed through aligned openings in the ends of said bars and are adapted to connect said bars, at either, or both, ends, with operating deyilpes, as ashipper rod, not shown, and the The push buttons or depressible switch members 19 and 20 of the switch assembly maybe of unequal height as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7; and usually the motor start button 20 is higher than the motor stop button 19, for reasons herein unnecessary to enumerate. For these reasons the lower end portions of said cams are formed with the projections c which extend below the face d. For some purposes the face d of the cam is adapted to be disposed over a push button, and for other purposes the projection 0 is adapted to be disposed over a push button. In Fig. 1, for instance, the projections 0 are over both push buttons while in Fig. 7, the projection c is over the push button 19 while the face d is over the push button 20 and in Fig. 8 the faces d of both cams are over both push buttons.

To ensure a good electrical contact between the stationary contact members and the bridging member carried by a push button, as when the push button controls a circuit closing switch as illustrated in the left hand switch of Fig. 11 and both switches of Fig. 12, and also to provide for slight inaccuracies in machining and assembling the switches and operating mechanism, resilient means may be interposed between the cams and the push buttons to permit further downward movement of the cams'under control of the cam roller 48 after the push buttons have been moved into extreme depressed posit-ions. Said means may comprise the pin 50 having the enlarged head 51 which is adapted to rest upon the top of a push button. Said pin is adapted to be slidably received in said holes 52 and 53 extended into the body of the cam from the face (I and from the face of the projection c. A spring 54 encircles said pin 50 and engages the cam'and the head 51 and tends to maintain said. pin in extended position. It will be seen that after a push button, as 19, has moved its bridging disc 19" into contact with the stationarycontact members 24 and further movement of said button is prevented, the cam may yet be moved downward by compressing the spring 54. For a switch assembly having a circuit openingswiteh, as the switch controlled by the push button 20, Figs. 1 and 11, the pin 50 and spring 54 may be omitted as the downward movement of said push button, under control of the cam roller 48, is not restricted. Consequently, in Fig. only to the cam 30 which controls the circuit closing or motor-start button 19. In Fig. 7, however, where both push buttons control circuit closing switches, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12, each cam may have the interposed pin 50 and spring 54. In 8 the switch mechanism, in itself, may permit a substantial movement of the push buttons beyond the points at which the circuit is closed or made and consequently the inter.- posed resilient means will be unnecessary.

A further feature of the invention resides in a separate compartment contained in the casing in which the switch leads and conduit leads are connected and stowed, and thereby held from Contact with the switch operating mechanism and with the oil in the switch. Said compartment A is disposed at the rear of the operating mechanism and above the oil in the casing and has its front walls and bottom wall 61 formed of a single L- shaped sheet of material having the reflexed cars 62 and 63 which engage and are fixed to a the side walls of the casing by suitable means,

as spot welding. The rear wall 10* of the casing is adapted to form the rear wall of the compartment. A side Wall 11 of the casing, at the back part thereof may be provided with an opening therethrongh adapted to receive a conduit 64 which may communicate with said compartment- A; and the bottom wall 61 of said compartment has an aperture in which the bushing 65 is received by which communication between the compartment and the interior of the switch casing is established. Switch leads 66 are connected with the switch terminals and are extended through the bushing 65 into the compartment for connection with leads 67 of the conduit 64. Preferably said switch leads are insulated with an insulating material unaffected by the oil in the casing. The conduit leads are usually insulated with rubber or other material which may be affected by the oil, and the insulation of the conduit leads would soon become destroyed if extended directly to the switch terminals.

For some purposes it is desirable to locate the switch in an elevated position above the machine adapted to be controlled by the switch, and drop control cords from the switch to a convenient position to be grasped and operated by the machine operative. Fig. 9 illustrates the switch adapted for this purpose. As here shown, brackets 70 are attached to each side of the switch. casing by the screws 34 and 35. Bell crank levers 71 are pivoted to said brackets and the ends of the arms 71 thereof have the elongated slots 7 2 therein through which the pins 49 carried by the ends of the bars 42 and 43 are extended. Rods or cords 73 are connected with the other arms 71 which may terminate in han- 1, said pin will be applied I dlcs, not shown, by which the cords may readily be grasped by the operative.

To operate the switch to start or stop the motor the bars 42 and 4:3 bearing the cam roller e8 are moved from one to the other side in the 'asing. In Fig. l the switch has been operated, say, to stop the motor. To start the motor the bars are moved to the left to carry the cam roller 18 over and depress both cams 31 and 30 in successive order. The depression of cam 31 and the push button 20 to open the circuit controlled thereby will be without etfec' as said circuit will stand open at the motor switch. The subsequent depression of the cam 30 and the push button 19 operates to close the circuit for the closing coil of the motor switch and the motor switch closes and the cont '01 of the closing coil thereby shifted to the push button :20 in a well known manner. To open the notor switch and stop the motor the bars 42 and 43 are moved over the cams in the reverse direction and the final depression ot cam 31 and the push button 20 operates to break the closing or holding coil circuit, whereby the motor switch will open. Usually the last push button to be operated by the cam roller determines the starting or stopping of the moto C will be noted that, excepting the switch illustrated in Figs. 8 and 1'. the push buttons are but momentarily depr ed yet the period of depression is sutlicient to control the motor in the manner desired.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in variously modified. structures without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising a switch assembly having self-supported depressible switch-operating members, a support located above said depressible members, and operating mechanism having independently operable plungers slidable in said support above and ar anged to depress said dep 'essible members one at a time.

2. An electric switch comprising an enclosing casing having a lower removable receptacle adapted to contain oil, a switch assembly disposed within said casing and immersed in the oil having selt-supported depressible switch-ope ating members, and operating mechanism disposed within said casing and above he oil therein having inde pendently ope able cam members one at a time engagcable each with a (l('*' )1i: ii)lt n'iember and movrole in the J' direction oi movement of said depressible members, thereby to depress them.

3. An electric switch comprising an enclosing c: sing having a lower removable receptacle adapted to contain oil, a switch assembly disposed within said casing having depressible switch-operatinl men'ibers, and operating mechanism engag .ble with said depressible members disposed within said casing including a rectilinearly movable member extended without said casing adapted to be moved bacl; and forth to operate the ope ating mechanism, and means actuated by said member arranged to actuate said dopressible members in succession.

at. An electric switch comprising a supporting base, movable and stationary contact members carried thereby. independently movable deprcssihle members carried by said base adapted to be depressed to ope ate the switch, resilient means to raise said depressible members subsequent to their depression, a receptacle adapted to contain oil in which said switch is immersed. and in 2a us to actuate said depressible members in succ 5. An electric switch comprising a supper ting base, movable and stationary contact members carried, thereby, depres. ble switch members associated with said n'iovaljile contact members adapted to be depr ed to operate the switch, and operating mechanism arranged to depress said depressible switch members, said operating mechanism includ ing an iiidepemlently movable de n'essiblc operating member for each de 'n'essible switch memlgier, and an actuating member arranged independently to engage and depress said depre sible operating members one at a time.

6. An electric switch comprising an enclosing casing. a switch assembly disposed within said casing having depressible switch members, and operating mechanism disposed within said casing ar armed to depress said depressible switch members, said operating mechanism including an indepeiulently de 'ible operating member for each depressible switch n'uunber, and an actuating member arranged independently to engage and depress said depressible ope 'ating members one at a time.

7. An electric switch conmrising a supporting base, sets of movabie and stationary contact meml rs carried thereby. a d ;=pressible member 't'or ach set of contact members carried by said base adapted o be depressed to operate the switch, means to return said depressible men'ibers to raised position subsequent to their dcpr :ion. a receptacle adapted to contain oil in which said switch in'miersed. a rcciprocable operating member. and means car ied by said member ar anged to actuate said depressible members one at a time.

b. An electric switch having two depress i 'h- .s'ch m mbers both arranged to be drpre. sed to control circuits. two cam members each separately engageable with a depressible switch member. and operating mechanism urged successively to depress and release .d cam membms whereby successively to depress and release said depressible switrh members.

two depre.-.-s s. an inde n-nthmtly operable cam member engageable with each switch member, and operating mechanism arranged successively to depress and release said cam members whereby to depress and release said switch members successively, and raising means for said switch members arranged also to raise said cam members upon the release thereof by said operating mechanism.

10. An electric switch having a depressible circuit-closing switch member and a depressible circuit-opening switch member, an independently 0 erable depressible cam member disposed a ove each switch member, and means disposed above said cam members movable to depress said cam and switch members in succession.

11. An electric switch having a depressible circuit-closing switch member and a depressible circuit-opening switch member, an independently depressible cam member disposed above each switch member, and means disposed above said cam members operable to depress said cam and switch members successively by a movement in one direction.

12. An electric switch having two depressible switch members, a cam disposed above each member to operate it, and a switch operating bar disposed above said cams having means to engage and ride over said cams successively whereby to depress them and said switch members.

13. An electric switch having two depressible switch members, a cam disposed above each member to operate it, and a rectilinearly movable bar disposed above said cams having a cam roller engageable with said cams to depress them and said switch members successively.

14. An electric switch having two depressible switch members, a cam disposed aboveeach member to operate it, and a rectilinearly movable bar disposed above said cams having means to engage and ride over said cams successively whereby to depress them and said switch members and means to raise said switch members and cams after depression.

15. An electric switch having two vertical-- l v movable depressible switch members, and operating mechanism for said, members including an operating bar transversely rectilinearly movably disposed above said switch members adapted to depress them successively, and means to guide said bar for rectilinear movement only.

16. An electric switch having an enclosing casing, two depressible switch members disposed therein, cam guides disposed above said switch members, cam members vertically movably received in said guides above said switch members and having free upper ends disposed above said guides, and a switch operating bar slidably mounted above the free ends of said cam members in said casing and having means to engage and ride upon said free ends.

17. An electric switch having an enclosing casing, two depressible switch members disposed therein, cam guides disposed above said switch members, cam members vertically movably received in said guides above said switch members and having free upper ends disposed above said guides, a switch operating bar slidably mounted in the side walls of members and extended above said top guide,

two connected spaced parallel bars slidably received in slots in opposite walls of said casing above said cams and extended outwardly beyond said side walls, and a roller carried between said bars engageable with said cam-blocks to depress them and thereby depress said switch members.

19. An electric switch having a depressible switch member, a cam member for operating said depressible switch member having an aperture in it, a pin slidably received removably in said aperture having an enlarged head portion engageable with said switch member, and a spring interposed between said pin and cam.

20. An electric switch having two depressible s itch members, cam guides having rectangular cam receiving apertures disposed in horizontal alignn'ient above said. switch members, rectangular cam blocks slidably received in said guide-apertures and engageable with said switch members and an operating bar dispc .,d for horizontal inovei'nent above said cam blocks l'iaving n'ieans to engage and actuate said bl l succively.

21. An eler.- c r-nvitch having a dep. sible switch member, a cam guide, and a cam-member slidably disposed in said guide arranged to depress said switch member, said cammember having lower face and a projecting portion extended beyond the lower face each adapted to en selectively the switch member by reversing said cain member in said cam guide.

22. An electric switch having an enclosing casing, cam guides comprising two vertically spaced strips having refiexed ends secured to opposite side walls of said casing, said strips having vertically aligned cam slots therein, cam members slidably received in said slots and extended above and below the guides, a switch operating bar slidably disposed in slots in the opposite side walls of said casing above said cam members arranged to engage and depress said am members, and a switch assembly secured to the lower cam guide having two depressible switch members disposed beneath said cam members.

23. in electric switch having an enclosing casing adapted to contain oil, switch memhers and operating mechanism disposed there in, said operating mechanism including an operating member Xtended outwardly through a side wall of the rising, a side compartment within the casing above the oil therein free from switch members and operating mechanism having an aperture in its bottom wall through which switch leads may be extended to connect with the switch 111E111- hers. and having an aperture in its side wall through which circuit leads ma be extended to connect: with the switch leads therein and a cover which forms a closure for said casing and also for said compartment.

2%. in electric switch including two spaced depressible switch-operating members, a cam guide disposed above said depressible members and having approximately rectangular apertures therein disposed above saiddepressible members, and separate and rectangular cam blocks received loosely in said apertures with their long dimensions in approximate alignment and disposed loosely upon said depressible nienibrs, and an operating har disposed above and in line with Said cam blocks and ha 'ing means to engage and ride over said cam blocks, and means to guide said ope "ating bar for rectilinear movmuent over said cam blocks.

25. An electric switch including two spaced depressible switch-operating members, a cam guide disposed above said depressible members and having approximately rectangular apertures therein disposed above said de pressible member and separate and rectangular cam him Is received loosely in said apertures with their long dimensions in approximate alignment: and dis-posed loosely upon said (lLPlti member, said cam blocks having stepped faces at their lower ends arranged for selective engagementwith said depressible members, and an operating bar disposed above and in line with said cam blocks and having means to engage and ride over said cam blocks and means to guide said operating bar for rectilinear movement over said tllllblOtliS.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHESTER D. AIXSWORTH. 

